George gamlen



(No Model.)

G. GAMLEN. COMBINED FRUIT SQUEBZER AND STRAINEB.

No. 473,220. Patented Apr. 19, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE GAMLEN, OF SOIPIOVILLE, NEWV YORK.

COMBINED FRUITSQUEEZER AND STRAIN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,220, dated April19,1892.

I Application filed July 15, 1891. Serial No. 399,650. (No model.)

To all 10.700771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE GAMLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scipioville, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Squeezerand Strainer; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention,such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isaside elevation of my combined squeezer and strainer and showingcoincidently, by the partial breaking away of a side wall or plate ofthe rectangular body, its in- Fig. 2 is a front elevation of theapparatus. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section taken on line a: 00, Figs. 1and 2; Fig. 4, ahorizontal section taken on line y y, same figures ofthe drawings; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of a fragment of acorrugated plate, showing manner of attachment to one of a series ofvertical rods, the parts being shown in horizontal section.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

My invention relates to that class or species of presses or squeezingdevices designed for squeezing or expelling water or other liquids fromclothing, cloths, &c., and pressing and macerating berries and smallfruits, obtaining the juices, straining the same, and insuring theprecipitation of the same into a suitable receptacle.

The object of my invention is the production of an apparatus of thecharacter aforementioned especially adapted for household and familyservice, hotels, boarding-houses, stores, halls, &c., and for farm-housepurposesin fact, wherever a simple yet durable and effective press andreadily movable, having the qualities of a perfect squeezer andstrainer, is serviceable for the manifold purposes it is applicable to.Moreover; the purpose of my present invention is to improve theefficiency and working of as well as render more satisfactory theservice and coincidently the adaptability of my novel combined squeezerand strainer embodied in the Letters Patent of the United States grantedunto me on the 12th day of August, 1890, and nuinbered 434,128, thenovel features of construction and adaptation to perfect serviceincorporatedin my present invention attaining the secu ring of thedesirable qualities in construction and operation contemplated by thisimproved construction.

My invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinationof parts, and adaptability hereinafter described, and fully enumeratedin the claims hereunto annexed.

My device is constructed as follows:

A denotes the stationary body, (or boX,) creating an operating-chamber,650., supported at a suitable height upon front legs or standards 1 1and rear legs or standards 1' l, the front legs projecting upward agreater dis tance than the rear legs, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. The rectangular body, open at its top, is secured at itscorner portions to the respective supporting-legs, as indicated. Thisbody portion has an inclined bottom a, preferably of metal, whose pitchis downward to the front of the apparatus, said bottom plate being bentperpendicularly at the rear of the machine, and thereby forming there-ata rear wall a of medium height, said wall being secured at the top by aflanged projection resting upon a cross-piece b, that extends from onerear leg to the adjacent rear leg, and the bottom plate a at its fronttermination is secured to the front legs in any ordinary or suitablemanner, preferably by its abutting side edges entering into the legssides.

The body portion (or operating-chamber) A comprises at either side aslab or strip of wood (or metal, if preferred) 0, the top edges beingarc-shaped, as shown at E, said side walls 0 continuing downward to thebottom plate a, and forwardly and rearwardly se cured to the linealfront and back legs, the for-wardlyrising portion of the respectivesides terminating adjacent to the top of the forward legs and ata pointmuch higher than the plane at which the curvilinear descending portionof the sides 0 are secured to the rear legs or standards. The bottomplate a is securely and tightly attached to the sides 0 c by its edgesoverlapping the lower edges thereof a brief distance exteriorly, andheld tightly thereto by a binding-strip d, nailed or riveted thereat andinsuring a practically non-leakable operatirig-chamber. Obviously thebottom plate may be attached to the sides 0 c by any other suitablemeans.

At the forward portion of the body there are erected several metallicbarsf, of half round shape, in cross-section, disposed equidistant apartand vertically parallel one to the other, said bars being suspended bytheir hook portion D from a horizontal transverse supporting-rod 71,extending from one front leg or standard to the opposite one, and areretained horizontally stationary by their lower ends abutting againstthe rear side of the cylindrical rod (or axle) t, stationed on ahorizontal plane transversely of the apparatus and mounted rigidly (ormovably) at its ends in the front legs or standards 1 l.

Secured to the rear and rounded face of the respective half-round barsf, by riveting, (or otherwise,) is a corrugated metallic plate 7;, ofsheet form, suitably perforated and extending practically the width ofthe operating-chamber and upwardly the height of the body at its frontand terminating downwardly at a short distance above the rod or axle 2",and whereby spaces are created between the projecting extremities of thebars f, that serve as ti ngers.

Forwardly of the corrugated plate 7t and its bars f there is created avertical passage-way Z, formed by the said plate It; in conjunction witha vertical metallic plate 171, erected at a moderate distance therefromat the front 'of the apparatus and secured edgewise to the front legs orstandards by any satisfactory means, said plate terminating in ahorizontal inwardly-projecting flange 'n at its top that overlaps upon ahorizontal transverse bar 0, extending from one front leg to itscompanion leg, and at its bottom portion curved in such degree as toform a curvilinear shelf 1), extending slightly underneath the axle zand lying a short distance above the bottom a of the machine. Upon saidbottom a, at either side of its forward portion, are erected guidestrips7' r, standing convergentl y and having an opening or gate 8. I

B is the compressor, pivotally moun ted within the operating-chamber andfacing the stationary perforated plate 7c, and comprisinguprightly-disposed bars t, of half-round form, transversely lyingequi-distant apart, their upper ends being curved, as at t, andsurrounding loosely a cylindrical horizontallydisposed carrying rod 2-,arranged transversely the chamber 0, and whose extremities, extending adistance outward, rest movably upon the curved top edge of therespective sides 0 of the clrambenbody, and at their lower ends a thehalf-round bars 15 extend to and partially surround in loose contact theaxle or red '1', that serves as their pivotal supports, and t; denotes acorrugated metallic plate, properly termed the compressing-plate, thatis secured by riveting orotherwise to the several pivotally-movable bars6 at their front face, the said plate, which is perforated, occupyingnearly the width of the operating-chamber, and in height extending fromthe carrying-rod 2 down to within a short distance of the axle or rod 1,said compressing-plate standing transverse the chamber and directlyfacing the stationary corrugated plate 7.3. It will be perceived that.sufficient pitch or incline is given to the bottom a of the chamber 0 toinsure unretarded and expeditious flow of the 'water,

juices, or other liquids to the discharge of the apparatus.

In my attachment of the corrugated plates 7t and t to theirsupporting-bars, that are of half-round shape transversely, I erect eachbar so that its convex face will lie and fit into the adjacent concaveportion of the corrugated plate, thereby securing positive lodgmentthereof when the plate thereat 1s secured to the bar by riveting orother sure means, and whereby each individual bar forms a reliablebrace, stiffening, and support for the attached plate, said constructionbeing exemplified in Fig. 5, wherein I show in cross-section a portionof a corrugated plate and one of the bars whereto it is secured.

The carrying-rod 2 (whereto the compressor is connected at its upperedge) has its extremities respectively journaled in traveling boxes (orbearings) 3 3 at either outer side of the walls 0 c of the body, saidboxes having forward and rearward ears or lugs, whereto is pivotallyattached a link belt or chain 1), that continuously extends to andmeshingly around sprocket-wheels l 4-, journaled externally upon thelegs 1 1 and l 1 of the machine, respectively,while E is anoperatinghandle for operating the front sprockets 4 4, and thereby,through the medium of the linkbelt connection with the back sprockets 4'4, imparting movement to the compressor 13, either forward or backward,according to the direction in which the sprockets 4 are rotated. Thesprockets 4: are mounted on the ends of an axle F, disposed injournal-boxes G, attached to the face of the front legs, and thesprockets 4!, irounted on a like axle II,

erected at the rear end of the apparatus.

J is an auxiliary strainer disposed a slight distance beneath the bottomof the body portion A, and lying horizontally, said strainer beingmounted upon side rods or ways K, extending, respectively, from a rearleg to a front leg at either side of the machine, by means of side arms5 5, having tubular terminations 6 6, that loosely encircle the rods,and thereby adapting said auxiliary strainer to longitudinal travelthereon and allowing it to expeditiously be stationed in an inoperativeposition directly beneath the bottom of the operating-chamber orpropelled forward to such degree that its central portion will liedirectly underneath the discharge or guideway of the operating-chamber,whereat the juices are precipitated downward, and

IIC

thereby bring in complete operative position, and the strainer when notrequired for purposes of straining is pushed backward underneath thebody of the apparatus. This auxiliary strainer is straight edged at itsrear end 7, and of semicircular form at its front edge 8, and providedwith a vertical flange 9 at its boundary edges that intersects thecylindrical ends 6 6 of the side arm portions 5 5 of the strainer.Centrally the strainer is slightly dished or concaved, as at 10, andprovided with a circular orifice O, of fair size,

across whichis drawn and secured firm wovenwire cloth 11. or othersuitable straining fabric; or, if preferred, the central opening may bedispensed with and said spot provided with infinitesimal perforations,which will serve the same purpose. 12 are radial channels, stamped orotherwise created into the top surface of the material of the auxiliarystrainer, designed to expedite the flow of the juices dropping thereoninto the dished portion and through the straining opening. The oppositeparallel rods (or ways) whereon the adjustable strainer is mounted passthrough the lineal legs of the apparatus and are held rigidly in placeby screw-nuts or other fastenings.

S is a movable support or shelf for the reception of a mop-pail or otherutensil, constructed of coarsely-woven wire secured to an encirclingmetallic framej, (or in other sat-isfactory manner, and provided at itssides with upright hooked terminating arms 13, encircling by their hookportion a supporting-rod 14, disposed at either side of the apparatus inproximity to the lower ends of the supportinglegs 1 1 and 1 l',saidrespective rods 14 lying horizontally and longitudinally with themachine and secured by their right-angular extremities w to the forwardface of the front leg, and lineally opposite longitudinally to therearward face of the back leg, the straight portion of the side rods 14standing inwardly a slight distance from the interior face of the legsof the apparatus, as indicated at 15, and whereby free and unobstructedmovement from rear to front of the machine is insured the support orshelf S in its longitudinal movement upon its supporting-rods, thefunction of said rods being, as is apparent, to permit of the slidingforward of the shelf S partially beyond the front of the apparatus andits sliding rearward directly under the body portion when not requiredfor service.

The supporting-rods are secured to the legs of the machine by means ofscrew-bolts or other fastenings.

Underneath the front portion of the movable pail-support S is attached asustainingroller 16, designed to retain the same horizontal at itsweakest portion against downward tilting or displacement from theweighty pail or other water-filled vessel that may be mounted thereon,and-17 are rollers attached to the bottoms of the legs of the machine,whereby it is adapted to ready propulsion through the various rooms orparts of a room -of a dwelling or other building or other spot.

may be retained at whatever degree desired I without necessity of theoperator holding to the handle for the insuring of continued and lengthypressure of the compressor against the substance undergoing squeezing.

18 are horizontal tie-rods disposed at varied heights and extending fromleg to leg of the machine, and by means of which the various parts arebracingly strengthened and retained in place, said tie-rods beingconnected to the legs or standards in any satisfactory manner.

I operate my device substantially as follows: The article or articles tobe squeezed or pressed-as, for instance, wet mop-cloths, clothing, &c.,or berries or small fruits inclosed in permeable bags or otherwise-aredisposed within the operating-chamber at the front of the compressor,and the manipulating-handle being turned in'the proper direction thepivoted compressor is, .through the action of the link-belt, impelled.forwardly and thoroughly pressing or macerating the articles or objectsdeposited in front ofthe compressor, and the water or juices containedin same expelled through the perforations in the corrugated plate 'orbetween the same, and thence downward upon the inclined bottom of thechamber, and thence, flowing through the convergent guideway thereof,precipitated into a pail, tub, or other vessel stationed in front of theapparatus and directly beneath the discharge of the squeezing-chamber.As

is apparent, the function of the perforations in both the stationary andtraveling corrugated plate is to strain to a greater or less degree thejuices that are through pressure expelled from the berries or fruitbeing squeezed, as well as the water forced from wet clothing, &c.

In the employment of my apparatus for squeezing or wringing the water ormoisture of wet textile fabrics it is obvious that the sliding shelf orsupport may he slid forward a distance beyond the front of the machine,and a pail orsmall tub disposed thereon to catch the drippings from thecloths undergoing pressure or be placed in its rearward inoperativeposition, and a pail or tub placed 4 are,

employed as a squeezer or wriuger for mopeloths in the operation ofmopping or cleaning floors, and wherein a mop-pail always at hand is animportantadjunct for satisfactory mopping, my sliding shelf, beingattached to the machine, serving as a reliable support for the mop-pailand insuring its being right on hand at the front of the apparatuswherever the squeezer may be moved or stationed,and thus entirelyobviating the necessity of the housewife carrying the lllOp1JfLll about,as to whatever part of the fioorthe squeezer is moved the pail, beingmounted upon a support attached thereto, necessarily moves with it.

XVhen my apparatus is employed as a squeezer or press for maeerat-ingand obtaining the juices from berries, small fruits, &c., the auxiliarystrainer is pulled forward from its rear inoperative positionsufficiently to insure its center coming perpendicularly beneath thedischarge of the guideway of the bottom of the squeezing-chamber. Thefunction of this auxiliary strainer is to insure perfect straining ofthe juices dropping thereon from the bed of the operating-chamher, andwhich, being liable to contain more or less small fragments of berries,fruit, &c., require to be separated from the juices by means of anauxiliary strainer having interslices of such smallness as to thoroughlyretard further passage of. the foreign particles liable to exist in thejuices as the same drops from the sqneezing-chamber. This auxiliary orsecondary strainer thoroughly accomplishes the result named.

As is evident, both the movable strainer and the movable support orshelf are readily withdrawn rearward out of ones way when not requiredfor service, and either one or both may be drawn forward and utilized,ac cording as may appear advisable to the operator of the machine. Thesetwo aforenamed adjuncts, employed in combination and connection with theremaining portions of my apparatus, I considerof essential value andimportance to its most perfect operation and adaptability for varieduses.

In order to release the pressure on articles that have been squeezed,the turning of the manipulati11g-liai1 .lle in a reverse directionimpels the compressor rearwardly and in position for future service.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in a combined squeezer and strain er, of anauxiliary strainer mounted movably upon horizontal supports secured tothe supportinglegs of the overhead operating-chamber of the apparatusand adapted to forward or rearward longitudinal movement along saidsupports, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combinatiomin aeombined squeezer an d strainer, of a pail supportor shelf mounted upon parallel horizontal supports secured to thesupporting-legs of the overhead operating-chamber of the apparatus andadapted to forward or rearward longitudinal movement along saidsupports, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 15th day of January, 1891.

GEORGE JIAMLEN. Vtitnesses:

\Vn. C. RAYMOND,

L. A. Wonnns.

